Financial Assistance

A Brief Summary of 2016 Maine Tax Changes

In 2015, the Maine legislature passed tax relief measures directly impacting Maine military veterans.  They include:

-  Elimination of the tax on military pensions.  The first exemption applies to 2016 income filed during the 2017 tax preparation season.  Maine joins 22 other states that do not tax federal military pensions.

-  Reducing the burden of Maine's estate tax on families.

-  Doubling the value of Maine's "Homestead Exemption."

For more information, visit the link provided below, read the attachment, and/or visit the Maine Department of Administrative and Financial Services site.

Maine 2015 Tax Reform for Military Veterans

External Website: AmVets of Maine

American Red Cross Maine: Services to the Armed Forces

The Services to Armed Forces program provides emergency messaging, financial support, mental health support, and information services to military members, veterans, and families.  

Contact

Eric Gates
Regional Services to the Armed Forces Manager
Phone:  207-729-6779, Ext. 202

Southern Maine Chapter
Regional Headquarters
2401 Congress Street
Portland, ME 04102
(207) 874-1192
(207) 874-1976 (f)

Central and Mid Coast Maine
16 Community Way
Topsham, ME 04086
(207) 874-1192
(207) 729-2738 (f)

475 Pleasant Street
Lewiston, ME 04240
(207) 874-1192
(207) 795-4037 (f)

Northern and Eastern Maine
145 Exchange Street, Suite 1
Bangor, ME 04401
(207) 941-2903
(207) 941-2906 (f)

Aroostook County Branch
7 Hatch Drive, Suite 250
Caribou, ME 04736
(207) 493-4620
(207) 493-4869 (f)

In 2015, the Maine Red Cross assisted 989 military families with communications or financial air, and trained 462 individuals throughout Maine in Red Cross services and resources.

Easter Seals Maine Military & Veteran Services: Veterans Count Maine Chapter

Veterans Count Maine Chapter

Easter Seals Maine's Military & Veteran Services provides critical and timely financial assistance and services when no other resource is available to veterans, servicemembers and their families to ensure their dignity, health and overall well-being.

Contact

Kelly Couture 
Development Manager

125 Presumpscot Street
Portland, ME 04103

Phone:     207-828-0754

E-mail:     kcouture@eastersealsme.org

Website:  http://vetscount.org/maine/

External Website: Easter Seals

Financial Aid Information (Maine Veterans' Services)

Maine Veterans' Services (MVS) was established in 1947.  MVS wants to ensure Maine veterans and their dependents receive all entitlements due under the law and are relieved to the extent possible of financial hardship.  To learn more about financial aid, contact one of these MVS statewide offices:

Maine Veterans' Services Offices

External Website: Maine.gov

Goodwill Northern New England Veteran's Fund

The Goodwill Veterans Fund is designed for one-time assistance where other programs are unable to fulfill a specific need.  Goodwill helps coordinate assistance programs with those in need. 

Goodwill's Veterans Fund Eligibility

• All stateside veterans living in Maine, regardless of discharge status, with priority given to those who have served in combat zones.

• All spouses and children of fallen soldiers.

• Non-recurring, one-time financial need.

Examples of Assistance

• Car Repair

• Fees for licensing exams or education courses

• Equipment purchases for small business

• Travel expenses for work or appointments

Where Applications Are Available

• Vet Centers (Sanford, Portland, Lewiston, Bangor, Caribou)

• Goodwill Workforce offices (Portland, Brunswick, Biddeford, Belfast, Augusta, Lewiston)

Contact

Senior Administrative Assistant
Goodwill Administrative Office
Phone:  207-774-6323

External Website: Goodwill Northern New England Veteran's Fund

Maine Assistance and Aid Programs/Town Emergency Relief Funds

The Maine Assistance and Aid Programs list includes state, county, and municipal programs that can help someone in times of need.  Visit this list at the site posted below.

External Website: Need Help Paying Bills

Tax Assistance & Tips (Free & Low Fee)

A few organizations offer free and/or low fee tax assistance.  Eligibility for these services are included on their site.

Income-based

IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)

CA$H Maine

Elderly

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Program

IRS Tax Counseling for the Elderly

External Website: Pine Tree Legal Assistance "Tax Information"

Money Matters (Maine Army National Guard Family Program Office)

The Maine Army National Guard Family Program Office provides a list of financial resources including national, federal, industry, community, and Guard-specific programs.  Visit the links for more financial counseling, information, and aid information.

External Website: Maine Army National Guard Bureau "Money Matters" Program

Financial Guide for Maine Veterans

Maine law student, Mike Adams, coauthored a financial guide for veterans. A veteran himself, his goal was to produce an easy-to-understand guide to financial resources available to eligible Maine veterans.  The guide includes information on veterans' benefit agencies and organizations, employment, education, health, establishing and maintaining credit, and personal finance.

Mainebiz notes that:

"The Downeaster Financial Guide for Maine Veterans, by Michael Adams and David Leach, is available free of charge to Maine residents by contacting the Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection at 207-624-8527 or 1-800-332-8529. Non-Maine residents may purchase the publication for $6 a copy, or at a volume discount of $4 a copy on orders or 50 or more. Shipping fees are included in the prices listed. It is also available online here. For the full list of Downeaster Common Sense Guides go here.”

External Website: Bureau of Consumer Protection